For two decades steadily rising living standards and high rates of economic growth have served as the standard explanations for Vladimir Putin’s overwhelming support among Russian voters while a key theme of Russian state propaganda has been the championing of Putin-style “stability” (as opposed to the chaos and poverty of the 1990s) and the unfettered consumption that has been made possible in Russia today. The effectiveness of such propaganda never really depended on the extent to which its depictions of reality were true, as much as it did on confidence in its promise for the future: your salary might hardly make ends meet today, but it will grow tomorrow, this way you can keep your job while inflation stays in check.
Diane Abbott, John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry are correct on Brexit
28 June 2019, byThe Corbyn project is in crisis. The EU elections results were a disaster for Labour, brought about by a major failure by the Corbyn leadership. It was an election that Labour could have won and within the terms of the policy agreed by conference last year, but this policy was repeatedly watered down by the front bench.
The victories – and continuing struggles – of women in Sudan
27 June 2019, byOne of the most popular images from Sudan’s protests that led to the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir is that of Alaa Salah – a young, female university student. The image of her speaking to a crowd highlighted the presence and role women had in the uprising.
The situation in Waziristan – Release Ali Wazeer, Mohsin Dawar and PTM activists!
26 June 2019, byOn May 26, the army fired on a non-violent protest of the Pashtun Defence Movement (PTM), killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens. The two Members of the National Assembly of the PTM were arrested, Ali Wazeer first, Mohsin Dawar later. Curfew was imposed on Waziristan.
An International Solidarity Campaign has been launched. See on ESSF International Call – Pakistan: Release Ali Wazeer and Mohsin Dawar, withdraw false police cases
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Ada Colau remains mayor of Barcelona
25 June 2019, byAda Colau of Barcelona en Comú (BComú) remains mayor of Barcelona thanks to the promise of a pact with the PSC (Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya) whose content is not yet known but which will involve a distribution of power in the town hall, and three votes of the Barcelona pel Canvi-Ciutadans group, led by Manuel Valls. This article analyses how this situation came about, how other possible solutions have been ruled out and what the possible consequences are.
Defend Abortion Rights!
24 June 2019, by“If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” — Florynce Kennedy
Argentina in its Labyrinth
23 June 2019, by ,Argentina’s looming economic crisis is the result of extreme neoliberal policy: as implemented by the military dictatorship, the IMF, and current president Mauricio Macri.
South Africa: Something’s got to give
23 June 2019, byThe election of a new government should be a time of celebration. 25 years since the end of Apartheid should be the time of immense celebration. Yet, 25 years since the “dawn of democracy” and South Africans are engulfed by extreme forms of anger, disillusionment and alienation. 22 million adults of voting age are so alienated that they did not even bother to participate in the national elections that brought the new Ramaphosa government into being.
Success of the general strike of 14 June
21 June 2019, byIn a week of intense political polarization, the movements of the working class, youth and the oppressed again held a strong national demonstration, in continuity with the expressive acts of 15 May and 30 May. There were stoppages in more than 100 cities. Street demonstrations took place in almost 200 cities, according to the G1 website. A survey by the CUT (Central Unica de los Trabajadores) shows a map with more than 380 protest points throughout the country.
Women’s strike in Switzerland with more than 500 000 women participating
20 June 2019, byOn Friday, the 14th of June 2019, hundreds of thousands of women went on strike throughout Switzerland for the second time after 1991. Women of all ages, from all regions and with different employment situations participated in hundreds of protest activities, ranging from putting up banners to squatting streets and central squares. The reasons for taking to the streets to protest were numerous – the patriarchal and capitalist society keeps producing new ones on a daily basis. Despite the political and economic stability in Switzerland overall, the political left succeeded in organizing one of the most successful mass mobilizations in Swiss history.